Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Boston, MA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $42,970 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,778 take-home, or $2,898 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,976
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,664
- Medicare (1.45%)$623
- Massachusetts income tax$1,929
- Take-home pay$34,778
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,770 | $17.20 | $29,353 | $2,446 |
| 25th percentile | $39,720 | $19.10 | $32,329 | $2,694 |
| Median (50th) | $42,970 | $20.66 | $34,778 | $2,898 |
| 75th percentile | $47,520 | $22.85 | $38,206 | $3,184 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,300 | $26.59 | $44,069 | $3,672 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,970 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $34,778 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,123 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sewing Machine Operator jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #16 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory, NC | $46,540 | $38,227 | $43,201 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,190 | $40,901 | $40,813 |
| 3 | Elkhart, IN | $40,130 | $33,270 | $36,834 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,210 | $37,225 | $35,191 |
| 5 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | $31,984 | $35,128 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $44,350 | $37,815 | $34,027 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $37,500 | $32,311 | $33,539 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $36,640 | $30,835 | $33,320 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $42,970 | $34,778 | $32,123 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Boston, MA?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $42,970 a year, or about $20.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,720 and $47,520.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $42,970 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $34,778 a year ($2,898 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,929 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,123 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #16 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 79% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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